Protoplanetary Disk Archives

Period-radius plot for planets in single-star (gray points) and binary-star (colored points) systems considered in this work. Colors correspond to log10(ρ), i.e. the projected physical binary separation in au. We restricted the sample to planets with 1 < P < 100 d and 0.5 < Rp < 4R⊕. The planets in binary-star systems have a similar distribution in period-radius space as the planets in single-star systems, although the relative occurrence rate of sub-Neptunes (2 < Rp < 4R⊕) is suppressed in small-separation binary-star systems (K. Sullivan et al. 2024). -- astro-ph.EP

Planetary Architectures of Kepler Compact Multis with Binary Star Companions

by Keith CowingApril 6, 2026April 6, 2026

Planets in binary-star systems exhibit demographic differences compared to planets in single-star systems.

Dynamical evolution of planetary embryos in a representative simulation of Scenario FIX. Each line corresponds to one embryo: gray lines show all embryos, while colored lines highlight those that survive until the end of the integration at ∼ 50 Myr. Panels display the semi-major axis (top left), eccentricity (top right), inclination (bottom left), and planetary mass (bottom right). The horizontal dashed blue line in the semi-major-axis panel marks the fixed inner disk edge at 0.01 au, which is applied only during the gas-disk phase (up to 10 Myr). -- astro-ph.EP

Astrogeology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report, Stellar Cartography

The Role Of Inner Disk Edges In Shaping Ultra-short-period Planet Systems Around Late M Dwarfs

by Keith CowingApril 5, 2026April 5, 2026

Close-in rocky planets are the most common type of exoplanets around late M dwarfs, ranging from more temperate worlds to highly irradiated lava planets with molten surfaces, and many theoretical […]

This illustration shows an ultra-hot Jupiter orbiting a blue-white A-type star. Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. Pollard

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release

Gemini South Confirms Long-Suspected Link Between the Composition of Exoplanets and Their Host Stars

by Keith CowingApril 4, 2026April 4, 2026

Almost 320 light-years away in the Libra constellation lies WASP-189b, an exoplanet known as an ultra-hot Jupiter (UHJ). UHJs have temperatures high enough to vaporize rock-forming elements like magnesium (Mg), […]

Two images of protoplanetary discs Tau 042021 (left) and Oph 163131 (right). -- ESA Larger imagery

Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

A Pair Of Planet-forming Disks

by Keith CowingApril 3, 2026April 3, 2026

This month’s ESA/Webb Picture of the Month offers us a two-for-one on brand new stars — with some potential planets thrown in as well! This visual highlights views from the […]

Dust surface density evolution in the fiducial model without disk buildup (left) and with disk buildup taken into account (right). Time zero refers to the moment the gas disk reaches maximum mass in the model including its buildup, corresponding to the time the dust is initialized in the model without disk buildup. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

Dust Evolution During Protoplanetary Disk Bbuildup Enhances CO Ice Relative To Water

by Keith CowingApril 1, 2026April 1, 2026

Water ice is expected to be the dominant volatile component of bodies formed in the outer Solar System. However, recent observations of comets and trans-Neptunian objects suggest that the relative […]

D/H ratios in solar system and extrasolar sources. Ratios are for methane except when noted otherwise. Sources for which the D/H ratio in c−C3H2 was used to estimate the D/H in CH4 are denoted with a ⋆. References and values for each object are given in Extended Data Table 3. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

Isotopic Signature of Organic Molecules from Beyond the Solar System: An Enriched Methane D/H Ratio in the Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS

by Keith CowingMarch 27, 2026March 27, 2026

Interstellar objects are interlopers from other planetary systems, and their volatile compositions provide a glimpse into planet formation around their host star. We present near-infrared spectra of the coma of […]

Left panel: Original L-band detection of CC1 in Close et al. (2025a). Middle panel: New H-band detection of WISPIT 2c following RDI. We show a confined annulus that was used for optimal stellar signal subtraction. Note that the bright arch on the right side of the annulus is the forward scattering side of the circumstellar disk. Right panel: Detection map of WISPIT 2c planet with VLTI/GRAVITY on the night of 2025-10-04. The map shows the periodogram power maps of a point source companion as a function of angular offset from the star, where the companion location corresponds to the strongest peak. -- ESO

Astrogeology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release

A Solar System In The Making?

by Keith CowingMarch 25, 2026March 25, 2026

Astronomers have observed two planets forming in the disc around a young star named WISPIT 2. Having previously detected one planet, the team have now employed European Southern Observatory (ESO) […]

Astrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release

High Nitrogen And Carbon Isotopic Ratios In The Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

by Keith CowingMarch 18, 2026March 18, 2026

Interstellar objects provide a unique opportunity to further our understanding of the planetary formation process by studying in detail material formed around another star. Their ices contain precious clues about […]

Spectrally integrated line flux maps for 3I/ATLAS observed using JWST NIRSpec: (a) H2O at 2.7 µm, (b) CO2 at 4.3 µm, (c) CO at 4.7 µm. Image axes are aligned with the equatorial (RA/decl.) grid. Molecular emission has been isolated by subtracting a polynomial fit to the adjacent continuum. Spatial coordinates are with respect to the brightest pixel in each map (the pseudo-nucleus). Inset panels (upper right) show the continuum-subtracted spectra within the image integration wavelength range, spatially integrated within a 3′′ diameter circular aperture centered on the pseudo-nucleus (corresponding to 3,900 km at the 1.8 au distance of the comet from the telescope). Lower left corner shows the direction of the (sky-projected) comet-Sun (S) and nucleus velocity (v) vectors. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report

Isotopic Evidence For A Cold And Distant Origin Of The Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS

by Keith CowingMarch 17, 2026March 17, 2026

Interstellar objects provide the only directly observable samples of icy planetesimals formed around other stars, and can therefore provide insight into the diversity of physical and chemical conditions occurring during […]

Left: integrated emission maps of the H2CO 4(0,4)-3(0,3) line for the observed sources. Right: peak intensity emission for the same line. Continuum emission at 0.8 mm contours is overlaid to compare with the formaldehyde emission in the disks. Beams are illustrated on the bottom-right with solid white for continuum images and dashed lines for line emission. The bottom-left bar represents a respective 100 au physical scale for each source. For most disks, there are no clear correspondences between the dust continuum contours and the integrated maps.

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

exoALMA. XXIV. Formaldehyde Emission in Protoplanetary Disks of exoALMA Compared with Their Properties and Dynamical State

by Keith CowingMarch 17, 2026March 17, 2026

The presence of asymmetries and substructures in protoplanetary disks, revealed by both dust and gas emission, highlights the potential interplay and the broader connection between chemistry and dynamics in disk […]

Protoplanetary Disk

Planetary Architectures of Kepler Compact Multis with Binary Star Companions

The Role Of Inner Disk Edges In Shaping Ultra-short-period Planet Systems Around Late M Dwarfs

Gemini South Confirms Long-Suspected Link Between the Composition of Exoplanets and Their Host Stars

A Pair Of Planet-forming Disks

Dust Evolution During Protoplanetary Disk Bbuildup Enhances CO Ice Relative To Water

Isotopic Signature of Organic Molecules from Beyond the Solar System: An Enriched Methane D/H Ratio in the Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS

A Solar System In The Making?

High Nitrogen And Carbon Isotopic Ratios In The Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

Isotopic Evidence For A Cold And Distant Origin Of The Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS

exoALMA. XXIV. Formaldehyde Emission in Protoplanetary Disks of exoALMA Compared with Their Properties and Dynamical State

NASA Spaceline Current Awareness List #1,221 16 October 2026 (Space Life Science Research Results)

SwRI Staff Contribute To New Ideas About Origins Of Uranus And Neptune

A Voyage Into The Slow-motion World Of Earth’s Deep Seas

Rosalind Franklin Rover Stand-In Tackles A Tilted Descent

Correlative Microstructural Analysis of a Weathered Nantan Meteorite Fragment